Colleague Spotlight: Caylan McGregor
Learn more about one of our amazing colleagues who we have the privilege to work alongside, providing care like family.
Caylan McGregor’s journey to becoming a Patient Care Technician (PCT) is a testament to her personal resilience and commitment to exceptional patient care. After a successful career as a pastry chef, Caylan was inspired to make a big change through her own health challenges. “I fractured my spine and needed three back surgeries. Seven weeks in the hospital showed me the impact great teams can have,” Caylan said. Now, those experiences help her make a special connection with her patients, “A lot of times, our spine patients...feel like their life is never going to be the same. I sit with them, cheer them on, and say, ‘We’ve got this. I will be your cheerleader in the hall.’”
Caylan's approach is anchored in the healing power of human touch. From small gestures like offering a warm blanket or a kind word to more hands-on care like helping patients bathe, she emphasizes the importance of making each patient feel seen and supported. "You can change somebody's life and mood just by doing the simplest things," she said. Caylan makes sure even the most routine tasks, like changing sheets or assisting with a shower, are handled with care.
Her ability to balance the clinical with the personal is demonstrated daily, with a particular emphasis on creating a positive environment for long-term patients. "Every single day when I write my name on the boards in the rooms, I put ‘have a beautiful day’ at the top. They need to see it," Caylan said.
Caylan's expertise and empathetic approach have not gone unnoticed by her colleagues. One long-time nurse commented in their recent nomination of Caylan for the Being Excellent Every Day award, saying they had “never worked with a PCT who was that attentive with patients and cared so much about teamwork and patient care.” For Caylan, that is what it is all about: affirming the care she received during her own hospital stay and now being able to provide the same level of compassion and excellence to others. As she continues to advance her career in trauma care, her goal remains simple but powerful: to make a difference in the lives of her patients, one small gesture at a time.